Justices of the Peace
General Duties:
The duties of justices of the peace can fall into five categories of responsibilities:
- Elections. Justices of the peace are members of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA). Members of the BCA serve as election officials at town or statewide elections. Justices also are responsible for delivering absentee ballots to voters at election time.
- Tax Abatement and Appeals. Justices of the peace sit as members of the town board for abatement of taxes to determine whether a taxpayer's tax obligation should be forgiven under certain circumstances. Justices of the peace also serve an important role in the town's tax appeal process. As a member of the board of civil authority, justices sit to hear and decide appeals when citizens do not agree with the final decision of the listers.
- Marriages and Civil Unions. Justices of the peace may also solemnize marriages and may certify civil unions in Vermont.
- Oaths and Notary. Justices of the peace may also administer oaths in all cases where an oath is required, unless the law makes a different provision. A justice of the peace is a notary public ex officio and has all the acknowledgment powers of a notary public.
- Magistrate. Justices of the peace may also serve as a magistrate when so commissioned by the Supreme Court.
This information is available at the Vermont Secretary of State's Website at: http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/pubs/justice_peace.html
The Justices of the Peace in the Town of Bennington:
|
Susan Beal John F. Behan Barbara Bluto Debbie Giroux Carolee Gulley |
Linda A. Corcoran Michele Hogan Albert Krawczyk Brian Maroney Jr. David B. Shaffe |
Anne Mook Mary Morrissey Timothy Pinsonneault John Santarcangelo James H. Marsden |
Justices who perform Ceremonies 2010-2011:
Justices of the Peace who perform marriage and civil union ceremonies are listed below along with contact information. The fee for their services varies and is settled between the couple and the Justice performing the ceremony.
| Susan Beal | 1601 Monument Avenue | (802) 447-2173 | John F. Behan | 500 Gage Street | (802) 442-3957 | Barbara Bluto | 222 Elm Street | (802) 442-9190 |
| Linda A. Corcoran | 703 Jefferson Hgts | (802) 442-8419 |
| Debbie Giroux | 1936 Chapel Rd | (802) 447-0853/ (802)379-1994 |
| Carolee Gulley | 174 Town Line Road | (802) 442-8621 |
| Michele Hogan | 132 Cardinal Lane | (802) 379-7997 / (802) 442-2157 |
| Brian Maroney Jr. | 245 Bradley Drive | (802) 447-7306 |
| James H. Marsden | 709 County Street | (802) 442-8797 |
| Anne Mook | 228 Washington Avenue | (802) 442-5028 |
| Timothy Pinsonneault | 48 Autumn Acres | (802) 375-3912 |
| David B. Shaffe | 229 Union Street | (802) 442-2521 |